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Poirot Investigates
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd.
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London SE1 9GF
First published in Great Britain by
The Bodley Head Ltd 1924
Agatha Christie® Poirot® Poirot Investigates™
Copyright © 1924 Agatha Christie Limited. All rights reserved.
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Title lettering by Ghost Design
Cover layout design © HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2016. Title lettering by Ghost Design. Cover photograph © Mark Owen/Arcangel Images
Agatha Christie asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
A catalogue copy of this book is available from the British Library.
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Source ISBN: 9780008164836
Ebook Edition © September 2016 ISBN: 9780007422715
Version: 2017-07-27
Contents
The Adventure of ‘The Western Star’
The Adventure of the Cheap Flat
The Million Dollar Bond Robbery
The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb
The Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan
The Disappearance of Mr Davenheim
The Adventure of the Italian Nobleman
The Adventure of ‘The Western Star’
I was standing at the window of Poirot’s rooms looking out idly on the street below.
‘That’s queer,’ I ejaculated suddenly beneath my breath.
‘What is, mon ami?’ asked Poirot placidly, from the depths of his comfortable chair.
‘Deduce, Poirot, from the following facts! Here is a young lady, richly dressed—fashionable hat, magnificent furs. She is coming along slowly, looking up at the houses as she goes. Unknown to her, she is being shadowed by three men and a middle-aged woman. They have just been joined by an errand boy who points after the girl, gesticulating as he does so. What drama is this being played? Is the girl a crook, and are the shadowers detectives preparing to arrest her? Or are they the scoundrels, and are they plotting to attack an innocent victim? What does the great detective say?’
‘The great detective, mon ami, chooses, as ever, the simplest course. He rises to see for himself.’ And my friend joined me at the window.
In a minute he gave vent to an amused chuckle.
‘As usual, your facts are tinged with your incurable romanticism. This is Miss Mary Marvell, the film star. She is being followed by a bevy of admirers who have recognized her. And, en passant, my dear Hastings, she is quite aware of the fact!’
I laughed.
‘So all is explained! But you get no marks for that, Poirot. It was a mere matter of recognition.’
‘En vérité! And how many times have you seen Mary Marvell on the screen, mon cher?’
I thought.
‘About a dozen times perhaps.’
‘And